Punishment
 
 The New Testament lays down the general principles of good government,
 but contains no code of laws for the punishment of offenders.
 Punishment proceeds on the principle that there is an eternal
 distinction between right and wrong, and that this distinction must
 be maintained for its own sake. It is not primarily intended for the
 reformation of criminals, nor for the purpose of deterring others
 from sin. These results may be gained, but crime in itself demands
 punishment.
   See MURDER 25621
   See THEFT 26632
 
 ENDLESS, of the impenitent and unbelieving. The rejection of this
 doctrine "cuts the ground from under the gospel...blots out the
 attribute of retributive justice; transmutes sin into misfortune
 instead of guilt; turns all suffering into chastisement; converts the
 piacular work of Christ into moral influence...The attempt to retain
 the evangelical theology in connection with it is futile" (Shedd).